Sheet treating machine



Oct. 18, 1949. R. E. J. NORDQUIST ET AL 2,484,845

' SHEET TREATING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS.

sf/Wm M. \7

Oct- 18, 1949- R. E. J. NORDQUIST ET AL 2,484,845

SHEET TREATING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q g IN7ZIZNTORS. Mo 14 Arms/vars Patented Oct. 18, 1949 SHEET TREATING MACHINE Ronald E. J. Nordquist, Maplewood, and Bruno A. Baumann, Newark, N. J assignors to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 24, 1945, Serial No. 595,612

Claims. 1

The present invention relates to sheet gauging apparatus for machines in which sheet material is required to be located in a predetermined position for further treatment and has particular reference to rotary gauge devices for locating the sheets in proper position.

An object of the invention is the provision of gauging devices which rotate relative to the path of travel of the sheets so that the sheets will be gauged rapidly as they pass the gauging devices so as to facilitate high speed feeding and gauging of the sheets.

Another object is the provision of such gauging devices wherein the rotation of the devices is timed with the travel of the sheets so that the gauging of a plurality of sheets moving in a procession will be effected at a predetermined point on the edges of all sheets alike.

Another object is the provision of such rotating gauging devices wherein one of the devices is a positive gauge and the other a yieldable stop having a reset feature for returning the yieldable stop to gauging position for a subsequent sheet after performing a gauging operation on another or preceding sheet.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a sheet gauging apparatus embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially along a plane extending through the gauging elements, with parts broken away.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate principal parts of a feeding mechanism including gauging apparatus for advancing and gauging sheets A of tin plate or the like sheet material into a sheet treating machine such as a printing machine, scroll shear, slitter or other machine used for preparing or converting the sheets into container or can parts.

The sheets A are advanced along a straight line path of travel across a feed table II by a pair of spaced and parallel endless chain conveyors l2 having feed dogs l3 secured thereto at spaced intervals along their lengths for engaging the rear transverse edge of the sheets A to propel the sheets continuously across the table. These chains travel through longitudinal grooves l4 formed in the top of the table. The chains operate over and are driven by pairs of spaced sprockets I5, I6 which are mounted on continuously rotating shafts I1, I 8 disposed at the feed-in and the discharge ends respectively of the table. The shafts are rotated in any suitable manner.

The conveyors l2 are utilized to feed the sheet A to a place or station immediately adjacent the subsequent operation machine and at this station and while the sheets are continuously moving forward, they are gauged for proper location and alignment and are immediately advanced into the subsequent operation machine while so gauged. The sheets are first shifted away from and clear of the conveyor feed dogs it into a squared-up position relative to the rear or feeding edge of the sheets and then they are gauged laterally along one side edge to properly locate and align the sheets in a predetermined position before advancing into the subsequent operation machine.

With the instant gauging devices this gauging and squaring of the sheets is effected rapidly, almost momentarily, and while the sheets are traveling forward over a short distance. Such a distance will be less than two inches, including the feeding of the gauged sheets into the subsequent operation machine. These devices thus are well adapted to high speed feeding operations.

Squaring of the sheets A along their rear or feeding edges is brought about by a pair of squaring-up fingers or back gauges 2| disposed in the path of travel of the sheets. These fingers are mounted in spaced relation adjacent theconveyor chains l2, on a continously rotating cross shaft 22 which is journaled in bearings formed in the table I I. This finger shaft is rotated in any suitable manner in time with the conveyors I2 and this rotates the fingers through a circular path of travel concentric with the shaft.

Hence as a pair of feed dogs l3 of the conveyors l2 moves adjacent the squaring-up fin- -gcrs 2|, while advancing a sheet A across the table II, the outer ends of the fingers travel up behind the moving sheet and engage against its rear edge. This engagement of the fingers with the sheet shifts it forwardly away from and in advance of the moving feed dogs so that the sheet is engaged only by the fingers. It is this action against the rear edge of the sheet that brings the sheet into a squared position, the two fingers serving as contact or squaring points.

With the sheet in this slightly advanced position relative to the feed dogs l3 and while it is being momentarily propelled by the squaring-up fingers 2 it is gauged laterally to complete the subsequent gauging in other machines if'ne'ces sary. This side gauging of the sheet A is brought about by a continuously rotating gauge fnember sheet A on the conveyors l2. "mounted-enema 38 carried in lugs formed in a which is disposed adjacent oneside. of the path, v a a a wayf4l;-in.airotatable stop member 42. The stop of travel of the sheet across the'table U gauge member preferably is substantially'eylin drical in shape and is formed with a rounded auging lug or element 26 which projectsfro m I the periphery of the gauging member. This gauging member is secured to the upper; end ;of

a vertical shaft 21 journaled in a transverse slide 28 movable ,towardandaway from the sheet A and'carried in'a slideway 29 formed in a bracketj projection 31 formed on'the, table I LI} 1 a The gauge member shaft 2'| is rotatedrapidly in'any suitablef manner in'tinie with the rotation of the squaring-up fingers 2! so that the side gauging of the sheet may be effected rapidly while the sheet advancing in its engagementvwith thefingersf Once for every sheet on thereonveyors 12, the rotating gauge member 25 is shifted byway of the slide, 28 from a normal retracted position'away from the path of travel of the sheets into a gauging position adjacentthe path of travel of the sheets. Thi movement of the slide is effected preferably by an arm 33 having pivotal connection'with a lug 34 formed on the outer end of the slide. The arm is actuated in any suitable manner in time with the travel of theconveyors |2..

Hence as soon as a'sheet A is engaged by the squaring-up fingers 2i and is shifted forward into a squared-up'position, the slide 28 immediately moves inwardly toward the side edge of the sheet and brings the rotating gauge member 25 into gauging position adjacent the sheet. The gauging element 26 on the rotating gauge member, immediately and momentarily engages against the side edge of the sheet at the predetermined point forward of its rear edge as hereinbefore mentioned. This thereby pushes the sheet laterally into a predetermined position.

It will be observed that there is existant at this moment a three-point gauging seteup which includes the side gaugingfelement 2'6 and the two back gauging or squaring-up fingers 2|. It is while the sheet Ais in this gauged position, that it is carried forward by the squaring-up fingers 2| into the subsequent operation machine. A pair of continuously rotating feed rollers 35mountedv on cross shafts'36 disposed adjacent the discharge end ofthe gauging apparatus is shown byway of example for receiving the gauged sheets and for feedingthem into the subsequent operationmachine. M L

Immediately following this gauging operation, 1 and as thegauging' element. 26 rotates away from the. sheet, leaving the sheet in its' gaugedlposi; tion the slide 28 bodily'return the rotating gauge member" 25 to its laterally retracted position clear of the sheet so that the gauging element '26 will not again engagethat'particular gauged sheet. V

In order to controlthelate'ral movement of the v sheet during the gauging operation so that the].

inertia ofthe sheet will'jbechecked' against shifts away from theiisheet to h carrying it away from the gauge element 25, provision is made for yieldably holding the sheet against the gauge element during the gauging operation. For this purpose there is provided a yieldable stop device 36 disposed adjacent the path of travel of the sheet along the sheet side d FPR it Ihes Qme en y gauge device 36 includes; ajfs'to'p; roller or el'em'e'nt'3l having its outefperiphery disposed in alignment with the side edge of the moving This roller is slidebar39slidably disposed in a transverse slidetransverse stop slide 44 movable toward and away from-the sheetA and carried in a slideway 45 fOrrnedin a bracket projection 46 extending out from the table H. This-construction is similar to that ,described for the gauge member 25.

The verticalfsha'ft ,43 extend up throu h 'a clearance'slot 5| 'formed'inthe slide bar39 and issurroundedj with a compression spring: 52 interposedbetweenthe top of the slide barand a retainer nut 53 threadedly secured't'o the end of tated in any suitable mannerin time with and at the same speed as the gauge member 25 for cooperative action with the gauge member.

' The stop member slide 44 is, shifted inwardly toward the sheet from a normally retracted position away from the sheet, by an arm 55 which is similar to the arm 33; Thearm 55 has a piv-' otal connection with a lug'56 formed on the outer end of the slide, and i actuated in any suitable manner in time with the arm 33.

Hence when the rotating gauging member 25 moves inwardlytoward one edge of the sheet to effect the gauging of the sheet, the rotating stop member 42 also moves inwardly toward the opposite edge of the sheet and thus brings the stop roller 31 into engagement with the sheet simultaneously with the gauging element 26; The pressure'of the gauge element 26 against the edge of the sheet pushes the sheet laterally against the resistance of the spring held slide bar 39 and thus the sheet is maintained in full engagement with the gauge element during the momentary gauging operation. I

As a 'result of this sheet gauging operation the stop roller slide bar 39 is pushed outwardly in its slideway 4|. It remains in the position in which it is left by the laterally moving sheet during the gauging operation so that it will not snap back against the gauged sheet and thereby disturb the gauged sheet position. This is the condition as the stopelement '31' rotates away the sheet into normal retracted position.

Provision is made for resetting the stop ele-' ment slide bar 39 in its original position by push ing it forward in its slideway 4| in the stop member 42 so that it will readiness for the next following sheet A on the conveyors". This is efiejcted by a camroller fil which is mounted on'a :pin 62 carried in lugs 63 formed on the slidebar as. ThiS'ca'nii "roller disposed on the p'posite the end which carend of the slide bar I ries the stop. roller element 3 1.. I

As the stop member I! continues to rotate it brings the cam roller OI into engagement with a stationary plate cam M which is mounted on a bracket projection 65 of the table II. The cam roller rides along the plate cam 64 which forces the slide bar 39 back into its original position and this completes the cycle of operation of the gauging apparatus.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. In a sheet gauging apparatus, the combination of means engageable with a rear edge of a sheet for continuously advancing it along a path of travel, a continuously rotatable gauge member located at one side of the path of travel of the sheet and having a radially projecting gauge element thereon for engaging a side edge of the sheet in a predetermined relation to the rear edge for locating the sheet in a gauged position, and means for continuously rotating said gauge member in time with the travel of the sheet.

2. In a sheet gauging apparatus, the combination of means engageable with a rear edge of a sheet for advancing it along a path of travel, a rotary gauge member located at one side of the path of travel of the sheet and having a gauge element thereon for engaging a side edge of the sheet in a predetermined relation to the rear edge for locating the sheet in a gauged position, and means actuated in timed relation to said sheet advancing means for bodily shifting said rotary gauge member into gauging position relative to the side edge of the sheet for the gauging operation.

3. In a sheet gauging apparatus, the combination of means engageable with a rear edge of a sheet for advancing it along a path of travel, a rotatable gauge member located at one side of the path of travel of the sheet and having a laterally projecting gauge element thereon for engaging a side edge of the sheet in a predetermined relation to the rear edge to laterally move the sheet into a gauged position, and means actuated in timed relation to said sheet advancing means for bodily shifting said rotatable gauge member into gauging position relative to the side edge of the sheet.

4. In a sheet gauging apparatus, the combination of feeding means for continuously advancing sheets, a rotatable gauge member for engaging the rear edge of each advancing sheet at spaced localities thereon for propelling the sheet out of engagement with said feeding means, and a rotary gauge member located at one side of the path of travel of the sheets and having a gauge element thereon for engaging a side edge of each sheet in a predetermined relation to its rear edge for locating each sheet in a gauged position.

5. In a sheet gauging apparatus, the combination of means for continuously advancing sheets, a rotatable back gauge for engaging the rear edge of each sheet at two spaced points while the sheet is advanced, a continuously rotatable gauge member located at one side of the path of travel of the sheets and having a gauge element thereon for engaging a side edge of each sheet in a predetermined relation to its rear edge for eating each sheet in a gauged position, means for continuously rotating said gauge member in time with said feeding devices, and means actuated in timed relation to said sheet advancing means for bodily moving said rotatable gauge member into gauging position relative to the side edge of each of said sheets in time with said feeding devices for the gauging operation.

6. In a sheet gauging apparatus, the combination of continuously operating feeding devices for advancing sheets, a pair of continuously rotating back gauges for engaging the rear edge of each moving sheet at two spaced points and for further advancing the "sheets independently of said feeding devices, and a rotary gauge member located at one side of the path of travel of the sheets and having a radially projecting gauge element thereon for engaging a side edge of each sheet in a predetermined relation to its rear edge for locating each sheet in a gauged position while advancing with said back gauges.

7. In a sheet gauging apparatus, the combination of means engageable with a rear edge of a sheet for advancing it along a .path of travel, a rotary gauge member located at one side of the path of travel of the sheet and having a gauge element thereon for engaging a side edge of the sheet in a predetermined relation to the rear edge for locating the sheet in a gauged position, and a rotary stop member located on an opposite side of the path of travel of the sheet and having a stop element yieldably mounted thereon for engaging said opposite side edge of the sheet in a predetermined relation to the rear edge for holding the sheet against said gauge element during the gauging operation.

8. In a sheet gauging apparatus, the combination of means engageable with a rear edge of a sheet for advancing it along a path of travel, a rotary gauge member located at one side of the path of travel of the sheet and having a gauge element thereon for engaging a side edge of the sheet in a predetermined relation to the rear edge for locating the sheet in a gauged position, means for shifting said gauge member into gauging position relative to the side edge of the sheet in time with the travel of the sheet for the gauging operation, a rotary stop member located on an opposite side of the path of travel of the sheet and having a stop element yieldably mounted thereon for engaging said opposite side edge of the sheet in a predetermined relation to the rear edge for holding the sheet against said gauge element during the gauging operation, and means for shifting said stop member into position relative to said opposite side edge of the sheet in time with the shifting of said gauge member to cooperate in the gauging operation.

9. In a sheet gauging apparatus, the combination of means engageable with a rear edge of a sheet for advancing it along a path of travel, a gauge member located at one side of the path of travel of the sheet for engaging a side edge of the sheet in a predetermined relation to the rear edge for locating the sheet in a gauged position, a rotary stop member located on an opposite side of the path of travel of the sheet, a movable element mounted on said stop member, means acting against said movable element for frictionally and yieldably holding it in position on said stop member, and a stop element carried on said movable element for engaging said opposite side edge of the sheet in a predetermined relation to the rear edge for holding the sheet against said gauge member during the gauging operation.

10. In a sheet gauging apparatus, the combination 0f means engageableiswith a: :rear edge. ,of' .-.asheet for advancing it along; a path-of; travel; "a: gaugeimmber. located atone sidesof the .pathof travelirofxthe sheet for 1-. engaging 'avsideaoflth'e sheet in a predetermined:relation'to the rear edge for looating the sheet in a gauged positionyasroez tary stop smember located" on"- an opposite side of the path of travel of the asheet a-movable e1e-1 mentimounted on" saidcstop; member; means actand yieldably:holding. it; in position on saidstop member; a stop element carriedton: said; movable element ior engaging said opposite'lside edge of the sheetiinapredetermined relation to. the'rear. edge: v for; holding the sheet against said igauge member during the gauging operation, and means disposedadjacent said stop member 1 and engage-1 able with the, movable relementyieldably' carried thereon for; resetting said movable elementrin; its

10 "114 1 53 ing-against said movable' element.forifrictionally a 'liho ollovling references arehot reeorclf in the original: positionv relative. torsaidzstop member afteragauging operation.

.JBRUNO 1A. BAUMANN;

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